My Kestrel came yesterday. I was like a kid waiting for Christmas. So I had it out for a few hours today trying it out at near ground level on different sized trees.
Here's a few thoughts in no particular order or importance...
1st off, the Kestrel is way nicer than my old Trophy Line. I had no fear using the TL but I never got comfortable in it. Too much hip pinch among a few other issues.
The Kestrel is going to be much better to walk in. I have no plans to carry it into the woods. I'll put it on like I'm getting dressed.
After reading some other threads, I was a little worried that I may have ordered the wrong size. I'm 5'7" 180 lbs and the size 1 seems okay for me, but I admit I've only worn it for a few hours. Time will tell if the 1 is the right size.
Definitely glad that I bought a couple Ropeman 1.
The backrest...wonderful idea, terrible material IMO. I see no reason why it should be made of noisy cordura fabric. I think I'll try to design something quieter.
However, I don't think the backrest will need to be stowed away each day. Hope I can explain this... I realized if you swap which prussic on the bridge that you hook the backrest clips to, there will be more travel available to slide the rest adjustment when you're done for the day. For example, if you attach the right clip to the left prussic and the same for the opposite side, you can slide each one to where the bridge attaches to the saddle. Doing so, pulls the back band tight against your lower back while you walk. No need to put it away and it's ready to use much quicker. I just wish it was made from quiet fabric.
No doubt...I gotta get some real knee pads. I have a cheap pair that I used today but they aren't user friendly. I didn't have pads when I had my TL because I thought I could tough it out without them...WRONG. Gotta have good pads. I guess I'll get some Arc'teryx.
Big trees or small trees? I think I liked the small tree better which leads to the next question...
Platform or ring of steps? Platforms are more comfortable, but for run and gun the ring is probably better. I plan to make mostly presets on private land. Maybe a hybrid of a platform with a step on each side may be the way to go. I have a bunch of Ameristeps but the jury is still out on whether I like a ratchet strap or over the center buckle. I have very heavy duty 1" straps that really hold the Ameristeps in place but the heavy strap is a pain to tighten in the OCB that I have. Maybe a different style OCB?? Looks like they aren't all exactly the same.
Another thought...For me, especially on smaller trees, my legs want to slide out and along side the tree and it's a lot less tiring if I don't have to hold my legs together while my knees are against the tree. So I took the long tail-end of my tether and did a loop around my legs just above the knees to see how it felt and tied it with a slip over hand knot. It kept my knees from wanting to slide around the sides of the tree. Legs on each side of the tree, with the tree in my face, is uncomfortable and it also cuts down on my field of view...all I see is the tree in my face. When my knees hold me back away from the trunk a foot or so is more comfortable and I see the woods better. And with the extra leg strap, turning and hanging sideways to the tree keeps the one leg from pointing out which adds to hip pinch. Using an extra leg strap may not be how I want to be 100% of the time, but for a little change of position occasionally, I think it'll be more comfortable and less fatiguing. Using the tail end of the tether was just for a test to see if it improved comfort and I believe it does. I think a wider webbing strap of some sort may be more comfy than rope for holding my legs closer together. And legs closer together definitely makes for more hip comfort.
Tingley boots on ring of steps... Definitely need a stiffer insole than the stock Tingley insoles. I really like Superfeet insoles but I didn't have them in the boots today.
Also thinking about an Amsteel bridge and tether to get rid of the clunky knots. I don't like the tag end sticking out of the knot. It's just something for a bow string to catch or clothing to brush against to make noise.
I guess I should have a couple gear pouches, too.
One thing that I never hear discussed here and that's hunting from a saddle in the rain. Seems to me that rain is not the best conditions for saddle hunting. Doesn't the rain wick down the ropes and onto you? Sounds miserable. I know a lot of guys are going to say "don't bow hunt in the rain" and I used to be hard-core about not hunting in the rain, until I found out about Luminol (aka Bloodglow). The stuff is absolutely amazing. Maybe it should have it's own product review. It's totally changed my policy about blood trailing in the rain.
I've only hunted from a saddle a tiny fraction of time that of most of you guys have so I'm sure that a lot of you have already dealt with some of my thoughts. Please tell me how to improve my ideas or where I'm wrong. I'm all ears.
I did take a couple pics and I'll add them via Tapatalk. Much easier for me to post pics with Tapatalk.
Here's a few thoughts in no particular order or importance...
1st off, the Kestrel is way nicer than my old Trophy Line. I had no fear using the TL but I never got comfortable in it. Too much hip pinch among a few other issues.
The Kestrel is going to be much better to walk in. I have no plans to carry it into the woods. I'll put it on like I'm getting dressed.
After reading some other threads, I was a little worried that I may have ordered the wrong size. I'm 5'7" 180 lbs and the size 1 seems okay for me, but I admit I've only worn it for a few hours. Time will tell if the 1 is the right size.
Definitely glad that I bought a couple Ropeman 1.
The backrest...wonderful idea, terrible material IMO. I see no reason why it should be made of noisy cordura fabric. I think I'll try to design something quieter.
However, I don't think the backrest will need to be stowed away each day. Hope I can explain this... I realized if you swap which prussic on the bridge that you hook the backrest clips to, there will be more travel available to slide the rest adjustment when you're done for the day. For example, if you attach the right clip to the left prussic and the same for the opposite side, you can slide each one to where the bridge attaches to the saddle. Doing so, pulls the back band tight against your lower back while you walk. No need to put it away and it's ready to use much quicker. I just wish it was made from quiet fabric.
No doubt...I gotta get some real knee pads. I have a cheap pair that I used today but they aren't user friendly. I didn't have pads when I had my TL because I thought I could tough it out without them...WRONG. Gotta have good pads. I guess I'll get some Arc'teryx.
Big trees or small trees? I think I liked the small tree better which leads to the next question...
Platform or ring of steps? Platforms are more comfortable, but for run and gun the ring is probably better. I plan to make mostly presets on private land. Maybe a hybrid of a platform with a step on each side may be the way to go. I have a bunch of Ameristeps but the jury is still out on whether I like a ratchet strap or over the center buckle. I have very heavy duty 1" straps that really hold the Ameristeps in place but the heavy strap is a pain to tighten in the OCB that I have. Maybe a different style OCB?? Looks like they aren't all exactly the same.
Another thought...For me, especially on smaller trees, my legs want to slide out and along side the tree and it's a lot less tiring if I don't have to hold my legs together while my knees are against the tree. So I took the long tail-end of my tether and did a loop around my legs just above the knees to see how it felt and tied it with a slip over hand knot. It kept my knees from wanting to slide around the sides of the tree. Legs on each side of the tree, with the tree in my face, is uncomfortable and it also cuts down on my field of view...all I see is the tree in my face. When my knees hold me back away from the trunk a foot or so is more comfortable and I see the woods better. And with the extra leg strap, turning and hanging sideways to the tree keeps the one leg from pointing out which adds to hip pinch. Using an extra leg strap may not be how I want to be 100% of the time, but for a little change of position occasionally, I think it'll be more comfortable and less fatiguing. Using the tail end of the tether was just for a test to see if it improved comfort and I believe it does. I think a wider webbing strap of some sort may be more comfy than rope for holding my legs closer together. And legs closer together definitely makes for more hip comfort.
Tingley boots on ring of steps... Definitely need a stiffer insole than the stock Tingley insoles. I really like Superfeet insoles but I didn't have them in the boots today.
Also thinking about an Amsteel bridge and tether to get rid of the clunky knots. I don't like the tag end sticking out of the knot. It's just something for a bow string to catch or clothing to brush against to make noise.
I guess I should have a couple gear pouches, too.
One thing that I never hear discussed here and that's hunting from a saddle in the rain. Seems to me that rain is not the best conditions for saddle hunting. Doesn't the rain wick down the ropes and onto you? Sounds miserable. I know a lot of guys are going to say "don't bow hunt in the rain" and I used to be hard-core about not hunting in the rain, until I found out about Luminol (aka Bloodglow). The stuff is absolutely amazing. Maybe it should have it's own product review. It's totally changed my policy about blood trailing in the rain.
I've only hunted from a saddle a tiny fraction of time that of most of you guys have so I'm sure that a lot of you have already dealt with some of my thoughts. Please tell me how to improve my ideas or where I'm wrong. I'm all ears.
I did take a couple pics and I'll add them via Tapatalk. Much easier for me to post pics with Tapatalk.
